A viral trend on social media started innocently enough.
The early 2010s saw crazes like the plank, the “Harlem Shake” dance, and lip-syncing to Carly Rae Jepsen’s summer anthem “Call Me Maybe.”
The Ice Bucket Challenge followed, raising an estimated $115 million for ALS research.
Social media challenges have become increasingly popular and dangerous in recent years, resulting in serious injuries and even death. It’s not difficult to understand why. The Milk Crate Challenge challenges you to walk or run on a pyramid of loosely stacked milk crates, the Tide Pod Challenge requires you to eat a pod of laundry detergent, and the Benadryl Challenge requires you to eat an over-the-counter allergy medication. It is recommended that you take at least 6 doses at a time. .
As researchers in clinical psychology, we want to understand why social media challenges are so appealing to teens despite their risks, and what steps parents can take to protect their children. I’m researching.
The charm of viral stunts
Almost every American teen now owns a smartphone and is actively using multiple social media platforms. The most popular among this age group are YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.
Teenagers, on the other hand, tend to be more likely to take risks. A person’s brain does not fully develop until he reaches his mid-20s. Parts of the brain associated with rewards and doing things that feel good develop faster than areas associated with decision-making. As a result, teens are more likely to act impulsively and risk physical injury in order to gain popularity.
Teens are also particularly vulnerable to social pressure.
A 2016 study found that teens were more likely to like a photo if it had more likes from their peers, even if it showed drug or alcohol use. It turned out that there is a high possibility that The same study also showed that seeing posts with more likes increased activity in the reward centers of teens’ brains. Simply put, teens pay close attention to social media content that gets a lot of likes and views.
In the best-case scenario, this vulnerability to social pressure might lead you to buy a certain brand of sneakers, for example. However, in the worst-case scenario, this could lead to teens performing dangerous stunts to impress or entertain their friends.
Our research also shows that celebrities, musicians, athletes, and influencers are also at risk for dangerous behaviors such as alcohol and drug use, especially since they get a lot of likes and amass huge followings on social media. We found that it can increase the behavior of teenagers.
Today’s teens may find it more difficult to resist social pressure. Not only do they have unlimited access to colleagues and other influencers, but their online social networks are much larger, with teens having access to hundreds or even thousands of online users. I’m following you.
What parents can do
Here are five ways parents can help their teens resist social pressure and avoid risks associated with social media trends.
1. Listen to your teens.
Parents can learn more about social media by asking their teens open-ended questions about their experiences, such as “Have you been offended by something you’ve seen on Instagram lately?” .
Share your own concerns about social media while listening to teens’ thoughts and perspectives. This kind of open communication can improve your child’s mental health and social skills.
Research also shows that watching media content with your teens and discussing issues that arise during and after media use can help children’s brain development and critical thinking. It can also help clarify questions and dispel misinformation.
2. Talk about what’s rewarding
Teens don’t always know why they act a certain way or are interested in risky activities. Having conversations about what feels good about likes and comments online can help you find similarly rewarding experiences offline, like joining a school sports team or extracurricular club . Research shows that participating in sports is a way to help build social identity, self-esteem, and meaningful connections with others.
3. Talk about what’s dangerous.
Social media posts often glorify risky behavior. For example, posts about alcohol use should focus on the fun aspects and avoid depictions of blackouts or injuries. Similarly, teens see likes and views from social media challenges, but are unaware of hospitalizations and deaths.
Parents can talk to their teens about this gap. Teens are often more knowledgeable about the latest challenges in social media, so ask them questions about the topic and help them think about possible risks.
4. Get informed
One of the best ways to connect with teens is to learn about topics that interest them. If he likes Instagram, consider creating his own account and let him show you the ropes of the platform, as teaching others can be rewarding for your teen. Also, take the time to do your own research and stay informed about social media features, challenges, and dangerous trends.
5. Make a plan
A family media plan can help you and your teen agree on screen-free time, no-media time, and how to choose good media habits. Social media helps teens build friendships, stay connected with distant friends and family, reduce stress, and connect with health care providers, helplines, or other tools to support their physical and mental health. It also helps you access.
Make a plan that allows the whole family to enjoy the benefits of social media. As your child grows, you and your family can change your media plan at any time.
Elisa M. Trucco, Associate Professor of Psychology; florida international university Julie Cristello, Clinical Science Doctoral Candidate; florida international university
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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